Binding device with front unfastening

ABSTRACT

A device for binding a boot to a sports article, such as a ski, skate, or snowshoe. The device is of the type having a member for linking to the boot that is capable of being displaced with respect to the sports article between a low position and a high position. For fastening the boot to the device, the linkage member has a front retaining system that cooperates with a front anchoring member of the boot, and a rear retaining system that cooperates with a rear anchoring member. The front retaining system has an opening arrangement to effect the unfastening of the boot from the binding device.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of patent applicationSer. No. 10/054,913, filed on Jan. 25, 2002, the disclosure of which ishereby incorporated by reference thereto in its entirety and thepriority of which is claimed under 35 U.S.C. §120.

[0002] This application also claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 ofFrench patent application No. 01.01603, filed on Feb. 2, 2001, andFrench patent application No. 02.10185, filed on Aug. 8, 2002, thedisclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference thereto intheir entireties.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] 1. Field of the Invention

[0004] The invention relates to a device for binding a boot to a sportsarticle.

[0005] More particularly, the invention can be applied to devices forbinding a boot to a ski. It can be implemented particularly in theconstruction of bindings for cross-country skiing, alpine ski touring,mountain ski touring, and telemark skiing. It can also be implemented inthe construction of bindings for ice skates, roller skates, andsnowshoes.

[0006] 2. Description of Background and Relevant Information

[0007] An example of a binding of the aforementioned type is describedin patent publication WO 00/13755, and in U.S. Pat. No. 6,499,761, towhich reference will be made as necessary for an overall understandingof the functioning of such a binding. Additionally for this purpose, thedisclosure of U.S. Pat. No. 6,499,761 is hereby incorporated byreference thereto in its entirety. Another example of a binding of theaforementioned type, designed more specifically for alpine ski touringand telemark skiing, is described in European patent publicationEP-A1-890 379.

[0008] A principle of these devices is to provide for a binding of theboot onto the ski, which is perfectly rigid in torsion, but which allowsthe heel of the boot to be free to be raised. The device described inthe document WO 00/13755 and in U.S. Pat. No. 6,499,761 is animprovement to the binding systems currently used, for example, incross-country skiing or ski touring, in which the boot is journalled byits front end about an axis that is transverse with respect to the ski.Indeed, in the improvement the movement of the foot with respect to theski, during the lifting of the heel, is a movement that is no longer amere rotation but which is as close as possible to a natural rollingmovement of the foot.

[0009] The invention can also be implemented within the scope of abinding device of the type such as those described in the document WO96/37269 and in U.S. Pat. No. 6,113,111 to which reference will be madeas necessary for an overall understanding of the functioning of such abinding. Additionally for this purpose, the disclosure of U.S. Pat. No.6,113,111 is hereby incorporated by reference thereto in its entirety.

[0010] In this type of binding device, the boot is no longer fastened tothe sports article by one or several stationary points, but it isfastened (and affixed) to a linkage/connecting member that can bedisplaced with respect to the sports article. This displacement can be amere rotation; however, in the previously cited examples, it is rather acomplex displacement that combines rotational as well as translationalmovements.

[0011] These types of bindings can have elastic return arrangements thatreturn the linkage member to a low position corresponding, for example,to the position it occupies when the boot to which it is connected takessupport at its front and rear on the sports article. Such elastic returnarrangements are very useful, for example, when the binding device isadapted to cross-country skiing, telemark skiing or ski touring, or evenfor ice skating or roller skating.

[0012] Documents WO 00/13755, WO 96/37269, U.S. Pat. No. 6,499,761, andU.S. Pat. No. 6,113,111 do not describe in specificity the manner bywhich the boot is adapted to be fastened to the linkage member.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0013] An object of the invention is to provide for the fastening andunfastening of a boot with respect to a linkage member, or connectingmember, of a binding device that encompasses those of the aforementionedtypes. If one wants the boot to be detachable from the sports article,the fastening and unfastening maneuvers must be as simple as possiblefor the user. The fastening mechanism must therefore be simple,reliable, lightweight and, in particular, it must have a minimum numberof elements to remain compact and inexpensive to produce.

[0014] To this end, the invention proposes a device for binding a bootto a sports article, the device being a type that has a member forlinking to the boot, such member being capable of being displaced withrespect to the sports article between a low position and a highposition, wherein, for fastening the boot, the linkage member has afront retaining system that cooperates with a front anchor of the boot,and a rear retaining system that cooperates with a rear anchor, wherebythe front retaining system can be opened to allow the unfastening of theboot from the binding device.

[0015] The invention encompasses particular embodiments in which theboot has a flexible sole. The invention also encompasses embodiments inwhich the rear anchor of the boot is positioned in the area of, or infront of, the metatarso-phalangeal bending zone of the boot sole.

[0016] Still further according to the invention, the connection foreffecting the displacement of the connecting/linking member between highand low positions can be of the type that effects pivotal movement aboutan axis that is stationary relative to the sports article. Theconnection according to the invention can include one or more connectingrods for connecting the connecting/linking member to the sports article.Further, the invention encompasses a connection whereby theconnecting/linking member effects a rolling movement relative to thesports article.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0017] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appearfrom an understanding of the following detailed description withreference to the attached drawings, in which:

[0018]FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view along a longitudinaland vertical plane, of a binding device according to the teachings ofthe invention before fastening the boot;

[0019]FIG. 2 is a view similar to that of FIG. 1, which shows a bootbeing fastened to the device;

[0020]FIG. 3 is a view similar to that of FIG. 2 in which the boot isfastened to the device;

[0021]FIG. 4 is a view similar to that of FIG. 3 in which the boot isbeing unfastened.

[0022]FIG. 5 is a top view of a binding device according to a secondembodiment of the invention, as shown in parent U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 10/054,913;

[0023]FIG. 6 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view along the line VI-VIof FIG. 5, the device being associated with a sports apparatus and aboot;

[0024]FIG. 7 is a detailed cross-sectional view of the automatic frontlocking member along the line VII-VII of FIG. 5;

[0025]FIGS. 8 and 9 are schematic cross-sectional views along alongitudinal and vertical plane of a binding device according to U.S.Pat. No. 6,499,761 on which the improvement according to the inventioncan be implemented, the figures showing the linkage element of thebinding respectively in its low position and in its high position, butthe improvement according to the invention not being shown; and

[0026]FIGS. 10 and 11 are schematic cross-sectional views along alongitudinal and vertical plane of a binding device according to U.S.Pat. No. 6,113,111 on which the improvement according to the inventioncan be implemented, the figures showing the linkage element of thebinding respectively in its low position and in its high position, butthe improvement according to the invention not being shown.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0027] The binding device 10 shown schematically in FIGS. 1-4 has a base12 that is adapted to be fixed to a sports article (such as a ski,skate, or snowshoe), but which could also be directly integratedtherewith. The binding device 10 also has a linkage member 14 (alsoreferred to as a connecting member or a linking member) on which a boot11 is adapted to be fastened and unfastened.

[0028] This fastening, which is encompassed by the invention, ispreferably a “step-in” type system in which the fastening of the boot onthe linkage member 14 occurs automatically, by simple contact betweenthe two. The unfastening requires a manual action by the user.

[0029] Examples described below (with reference to FIGS. 8-11) aredirected to the manner by which the linkage member 14 can be connectedto the base 12, although such connection is not intended to be limitingto the invention. As a matter of fact, the invention can be implementedwith various types of mechanisms in which the linkage member 14 ismovable with respect to the base 12. In this manner, this linkage member14 can be connected to the base by a mere articulation, as will bedescribed with reference to FIGS. 5 to 7, or by a more complexmechanism, such as those described in the documents previously cited andwhich have, for example, at least one connecting rod connecting thelinkage member 14 to the base 12. In one of these mechanisms, which isillustrated here in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 and which is fully described inU.S. Pat. No. 6,499,761, the linkage member 130 takes support on thesports article by a convex surface 134, and when the linkage member 130is displaced between its high and low positions, it effects a rollingmovement that slides with respect to the sports article 100. One canalso see on these figures that the linkage member 130 is linked to the abase member 111 of the device by a connecting rod 122, and that thelinkage member 130 is biased by a rubber band 140 for elasticallyreturning it to its low position. In another of these mechanisms, whichis illustrated here in FIG. 10 and in FIG. 11, and which is fullydescribed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,113,111, the linkage member 203 is linkedto the sports article 214 (here an ice-skate) by a number of connectingrods 216, 217, 218, 219. The linkage member is also equipped with means215 for elastically returning it to its low position.

[0030] In the example shown in FIGS. 1-4, the boot 11 has a flexiblesole, allowing the sole to bend/flex, having two anchoring elements 31,32, or anchors, arranged in the sole so as to be flush with the lowersurface thereof or, at least, so as not to extend below the lowermostsurface of the sole. Anchoring elements 31, 32 of this type aredescribed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,289,610, the disclosure of which is herebyincorporated by reference thereto in its entirety, and in Europeanpatent publications EP-A-913 102 and EP-A-913 103, to which referencewill be made heretofore, as necessary, for more details. Thus, herethere are two cylindrical anchors, or pins, positioned across alongitudinal groove provided in the lower surface of the sole. The frontpin 31 is, for example, located in the area of the front end of thesole, and the rear pin 32 is offset toward the rear by approximately 50millimeters (mm). Nevertheless, the invention could be implemented withanchoring elements having a different geometry. Preferably, the rearanchoring pin is located behind the front anchoring pin, but it islocated in the area of or in front of a metatarso-phalangeal bendingzone of the boot, i.e., approximately in the front third of the sole.Consequently, the fastening of the boot on the linkage member 14maintains the flexibility of the boot sole. However, this arrangementdoes not come without additional constraints for the design of thefastening system, particularly for the rear retaining system.

[0031] The linkage member 14 has, at its front end, a first retainingsystem that, in this case, includes an automatic front latch 34, andwhich is provided to receive the front cylindrical pin 31 of the boot.

[0032] According to this example, the automatic front latch 34 has astationary jaw 13 that is affixed to the front end of the linkage member14, and which defines, at its upper portion, a groove 16 that isupwardly open, and a movable jaw 15 that is articulated about atransverse axis 18 directly on the stationary jaw 13, or on the linkagemember 14. The movable jaw 15 is provided with an elastic returnmechanism, such as a torsion spring 18′ positioned around the axis 18,that pushes the jaw 15 back to the closing position shown in FIG. 1, inwhich the two jaws 13, 15 define a housing having a cross-sectioncorresponding to that of the front transverse pin 31 of the boot 11. Themovable jaw 15 has an inclined ramp 17 that is arranged such that, whenthe pin 31 exerts a substantially vertical force on the ramp 17, fromthe top downward, it causes a retraction by rocking the movable jaw 15about the axis 18 toward an open position in which it allows access tothe groove 16. When the pin 31 has penetrated into the groove 16, themechanism for returning the movable jaw 15 returns the latter to itsclosing position. The pin 31 is then confined in the housing defined bythe front latch 34. Due to their rotating cylindrical sections, the pin31 and the front latch 34 then allows a rotation of the boot 11 withrespect to the linkage member 14 about the transverse axis of the pin31. Due to the geometry of the elements, particularly that of themovable jaw 15, the front pin 31, once engaged in the latch, cannotcause the opening of the latch.

[0033] The linkage member 14 also has a rear retaining system 23provided with a hook that is mounted to slide longitudinally on thelinkage member 14 between an advanced closing position shown in FIGS. 1and 2, and a pushed back open position. The hook is returned to thefront towards its closing position by a spring 22, for example, acompression spring. The hook of the rear retaining system 23 demarcatesa groove 38 that is forwardly open whereas its upper surface has a ramp40 that is inclined downwardly and forwardly.

[0034] At rest, as can be seen in FIG. 1, the spring 22 pushes the hookof the rear retaining system 23 to take support toward the front againstan abutment surface 25 of the linkage member 14. This abutment surface25 is positioned such that, when the front pin 31 of the boot 11 islatched in the front latch 34, the rear pin 32 is exactly perpendicularto the inclined ramp 40 of the rear retaining system 23 (see FIG. 2).Consequently, when the rear pin 32 is lowered vertically downwardly, bypivoting about the front pin 31, the rear pin 32 takes support againstthe inclined surface 40 and causes the backward movement of the rearhook of the rear retaining system 23 with respect to the linkage member14 by compressing the spring 22 until the hook is completely withdrawn.The rear pin 32 is then facing the groove 38 and the hook of the rearretaining system 23 can once again advance under the action of thereturn spring 22 until the rear pin 32 is housed in the groove 38. Therear pin 32 can then no longer move upwardly with respect to the linkagemember 14.

[0035] Preferably, the rear pin 32 is then blocked longitudinally towardthe rear not only by the back of the groove 38 of the hook of theretaining system 23, but also by a blocking surface (not shown) providedon the linkage member 14. In this manner, the longitudinal blockingtoward the rear occurs by a mechanical abutment, independent of theforce of the spring 22. In this position, with the two pins 31, 32 beingblocked, the boot 11 is completely fastened to the linkage member 14, ascan be seen in FIG. 3.

[0036] According to the teachings of the invention, the unfastening ofthe boot occurs along a movement that, in contrast to the norm, is not amere reverse movement of the movement for putting on the boot.

[0037] As a matter of fact, one can see that the movable jaw 15 of thefront latch is capable of being tilted towards its opening position by amere movement of support on an unlatching member 36 integrated with themovable jaw 15. Advantageously, this unlatching, or actuating, member 36is arranged outside of the form of the boot, for example, toward thefront, which allows it to be very easily accessible. Thus, theunlatching member 36 can be manipulated, for example, by means of a skipole without the user having to bend down.

[0038] Once the front latch 34 is open, the user can lift the front endof his/her boot to disengage the front anchoring pin 31 from the groove16 (a movement indicated by the arrow A in FIG. 4). Once the front pin31 is disengaged, the user can very easily disengage the rear pin 32from the hook of the rear retaining system 23 by merely advancing theboot forwardly (a movement indicated by the arrow B in FIG. 4) withouthaving to manipulate the rear retaining system 23. As a matter of fact,as can be seen in FIG. 4, the rear hook of the rear retaining system 23takes support against the abutment surface 25 and cannot further advanceforwardly. The rear retaining system that is in use under the boot 11,therefore, has no means for opening.

[0039] This system for fastening the boot is particularly simple anduses a limited number of elements. It is very compact while being veryeasy to use when putting the boot on as well as when taking the bootoff.

[0040] One skilled in the art can break down the invention by creating,only using his/her own general knowledge, alternative embodiments thateasily result from the system described hereinabove.

[0041] In this manner, one can provide for the front latch to have amovable jaw that is slidable rather than pivotal and/or for the rearhook to be pivotal rather than slidable. Likewise, one can provide forthe front latch to be a manual latch that has no elastic returnmechanism, instead of being automatic as described.

[0042] The elastic return mechanism (such as the spring 22) can possiblybe designed to act both on the front latch as well as on the frontretaining system. Similarly, the elastic return mechanism of the frontand/or rear retaining systems can be constituted by means for returningthe linkage member to its low position.

[0043] According to the second embodiment of the invention shown inFIGS. 5 to 7, the binding device, is adapted to be inserted between aboot 11 and a sports apparatus 3, which is for example the deck of asnowshoe. As shown in these figures, this binding occurs by means of afront transverse anchor 4, shown as a pin or rod, located in the area ofthe sole 5 of the boot 11.

[0044] The front transverse anchor 4 is adapted to cooperate withcorresponding retaining mechanism 6A affixed to a front zone of alinkage element or support plate 7A of the apparatus 3. The supportplate 7A is connected to the deck 3 by a transverse axis 80A, so thatthe support plate 7A is movable with respect to the sports apparatusbetween a low position (shown at FIG. 6) and a high position (not shown)by a pivotal movement around the stationary transverse axle 80A.Furthermore, the binding is also carried out by a rear retaining system8A for retaining a rear anchor part 24A of the heel zone of the boot 11.

[0045] The retaining mechanism 8A is affixed to a slide 10A mountedfreely in a rectilinear guide 11A of the plate 7A so that it can beadjusted into a position relative to the front of the boot 11.

[0046] The front retaining system 6A and the rear retaining system 8Aare constituted by positive locking members 12A, 40A with automatic snapengagement, which can be actuated without manual intervention by merepressure of the boot 11 on the front, then on the rear, alongsubstantially vertical downward movements F1, F2, and consequently in asubstantially horizontal position of the boot 11.

[0047] The front retaining system 12A for automatic locking of the boot2, comprises a fixed jaw 13A affixed to the front end of the plate 7Aand defines, at its upper portion, a first groove portion 14 a openupwardly, and by a movable jaw or rocker 15A journalled 16A at the endof the plate 7A in the vicinity of the fixed jaw 13A and defining, at anupper inner portion, a second groove portion 17A open downwardly andcomplementary to the first 14A so as to define a cross-sectioncorresponding to that of the front anchor 4 adapted to be housed thereinafter pushing back the movable jaw 15A against an elastic return member20A that is specific thereto.

[0048] Advantageously, the fixed jaw is made as a single piece with theplate 3, i.e., the fixed jaw and plate are made unitary, during a commonmolding operation of a plastic material.

[0049] The groove portion 14A of the fixed jaw 13A and the complementarygroove portion 17A of the movable jaw 15A have outer engagement ramps18A and 19A defining therebetween a V in which the transverse rod/pin 4is positioned prior to its snap engagement.

[0050] Furthermore, the rocker 15A has a nose 15 a directed forwardly ina direction opposite that of the energy lug 20A in relation to thejournal axle 16A, so as to enable its rocking about this axis thereofduring an unlocking maneuver.

[0051] According to this same second example, the rear retaining system8A for automatic locking of the boot 11 is constituted by a rigid frontspoiler 23A oriented downwardly and forwardly, projectingly raised onthe plate 7A and movably affixed to the slide 10 adapted to slide freelyin the rectilinear guide 11A of the plate 7A along a rear direction F3until snap engagement of the front spoiler 23A on an edge 24A of theheel zone of the boot 11 forming a rear anchor, occurring under theaction, along a front direction F4, of an elastic return member 25Awhich is specific thereto and distinct from the elastic return member20A of the front locking member 12A.

[0052] According to this same embodiment, the slide 10A includes aninner part or strip 26A with a width corresponding substantially to alower inner groove 27A of the plate 7A forming the rectilinear guide 11,on the one hand, and of an outer part or back 28A perpendicularlyextending the front spoiler 23A forwardly and taking support on theupper plane 29A of the plate 7A, the strip 26A and back 28A constitutingthe slide 10A being joined together by an assembly mechanism 30A.

[0053] According to a particular characteristic of the front spoiler23A, the latter has on its upper portion a boot insertion slope 31Adirected forward and downward.

[0054] Furthermore, the front spoiler 23A is affixed to the outer upperpart or back 28A of the slide 10A by means of a perpendicular extension32A of the latter, on which the front spoiler 23A is fixed by anassembly mechanism 33A.

[0055] As seen particularly well in FIG. 8, the front spoiler 23A andextension 32A of the back 28A of the slide 10A on which it is fixed forman interface including complementary teeth 34A enabling a heightadjustment, so as to render the rear locking member 8A adaptable to anyboot height.

[0056] The elastic member 25A for returning the slide 10A and the frontspoiler 23A, which is affixed thereto, is constituted by a rubber band,perforated along its entire length with successive adjusting holes 35A,one end hole of which cooperates with a pin 36A obtained beneath thelower surface of the back 28A of the slide 10A, and one of the otherholes of which, selected as a function of the length of the boot 2 andof the desired return force F4, cooperates with a fixed pin 37A made onthe upper surface 29A of the plate 7A.

[0057] Preferably, the pin 36A for fastening the end of the rubber band25A, positioned beneath the back 28A of the slide 10A, is arranged inlongitudinal alignment with another blind and threaded pin 38A, alsopositioned beneath the lower surface of the back 28A of-the slide 10A,the latter being adapted to the fixing of the strip 26A of the slide10A, so that the two pins 36A and 37A can constitute guides of the slide10A by displacement in a longitudinal slot 39A of the plate 7A throughwhich they extend.

[0058] As a matter of fact, one can see that the movable jaw 15A of thefront retaining system 6A is capable of being tilted towards its openingposition by pushing downwards on an unlatching member 15 a integratedwith the movable jaw 15A. Advantageously, this unlatching member, oractuating member, 15 a is arranged outside of the form of the boot, forexample, toward the front, which allows it to be very easily accessible.Thus, the unlatching member 15 a can be manipulated, for example, bymeans of a ski pole without the user having to bend down.

[0059] Once the front retaining system is open, the user can lift thefront end of his/her boot to disengage the front anchoring pin 4. Oncethe front pin 4 is disengaged, the user can very easily disengage therear part of the boot from the hook of the rear retaining system 23A bymerely advancing the boot forwardly without having to manipulate therear retaining system 23A.

What is claimed is:
 1. A device for binding a boot to a sports article,wherein the boot comprises a sole, the sole having a front anchor and arear anchor located rearwardly of the front anchor, said devicecomprising: a linkage element movable with respect to the sports articlebetween a low position and a high position; the linkage elementcomprising a front retaining system and a rear retaining system; whereinthe front and rear retaining systems cooperate respectively with thefont and rear anchors of the sole for removably fastening the sole ofthe boot to the linkage member; and wherein the front retaining systemcan be opened to allow an unfastening of the boot from the device.
 2. Adevice according to claim 1, wherein the front retaining systemcomprises an actuating member, said actuating member can actuate thefront retaining system towards an open position.
 3. A device accordingto claim 1, wherein the front retaining system is an automaticengagement system for automatically engaging the boot.
 4. A deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the rear retaining system allows for thedisengagement of the rear anchor of the boot when the front anchor isdisengaged from the front retaining system.
 5. A device according toclaim 1, wherein the front retaining system comprises a latch that isarticulated on the linkage member.
 6. A device according to claim 1,wherein the front retaining system is biased to a latching position by aspring element.
 7. A device according to claim 6, wherein the frontretaining system comprises a retracting ramp due to which the frontretaining system is retracted to an opening position when the boot issupported on the ramp.
 8. A device according to claim 1, wherein therear retaining system comprises a hook slidingly mounted on the linkagemember.
 9. A device according to claim 1, wherein the rear retainingsystem is biased to a retaining position by a spring element.
 10. Adevice according to claim 1, wherein the rear retaining system has anautomatic engagement.
 11. A device according to claim 1, wherein thelinkage member is connected to the sports article by at least oneconnecting rod.
 12. A device according to claim 1, wherein the linkagemember takes support on the sports article by a convex surface, andwherein, when the linkage member is displaced between its high and lowpositions, the linkage member effects a rolling movement that slideswith respect to the sports article.
 13. A device according to claim 1,wherein the linkage member is articulated with respect to the sportsarticle about a stationary transverse axle.
 14. A device according toclaim 1 in combination with the boot.
 15. A device in combination withthe boot according to claim 14, wherein the sole of the boot isflexible.
 16. A device in combination with the boot according to claim14, wherein the rear anchor of the boot sole is located in the area ofor in front of a metatarso-phalangeal bending zone of the boot sole.